The Problem of the Gifted Speaker

by Stephen C. Perks

One of the problems facing the Church in the Western world today is the problem posed by the “ministry” of those who are considered “gifted speakers” and consequently idolised by the Church. Stated in its most simple form this is the problem posed by the prioritising of the personality, charisma, “profile,” popularity, stage presence and ability of the speaker as an orator and entertainer over the content of the message being delivered—in short, the triumph of style over content, the consequence of which has been the creation of an intellectually feeble-minded and theologically malnourished generation of churchgoers who are over stimulated by sentimental and mindless entertainment worship masquerading as spiritual edification. The problem has a long history, but it is made particularly problematic today by the intellectual dumbing down process that currently afflicts British culture generally and has produced a semiliterate society. That the Church should also have fallen into this ditch is particularly problematic because her role in providing spiritual, moral and intellectual leadership for society is vital to the health of the nation. Without the leadership of the Church the nation cannot recover from its present descent into cultural degeneration and the neo-paganism that is its inevitably accompaniment. While the Church is obsessed with the mindless prioritising of style over content that is vitiating the cultural life of the nation as a whole she will remain useless and irrelevant to society, and therefore unable to provide the leadership that the nation so desperately needs.

28 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Helbert Mendes · Rating 3 out of 5]

De fato, nos os reformados temos um excessivo zelo pelo estilo.
Porém, o autor ao formular a crítica resulta em um muito do mesmo que acaba jogando não só a água fora, mas o bebê e a banheira!

Porém, ainda nos faz refletir sobre um antigo mal que assola nossos dias um pregador versado em transmitir a mensagem com fidelidade ao texto ou de modo cativante?

[Alan Rennê · Rating 4 out of 5]

Li a edição em português, publicada pela editora Monergismo. Uma pertinente crítica ao culto à personalidade tão comum em nosso meio evangélico.

[Jacob London · Rating 3 out of 5]

Free here: https://www.kuyper.org/shop/the-probl...

[Felipe Sabino · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perks tem um poder de concisão impressionante. Neste livreto ele mostra, em poucas palavras, o perigo da idolatria da retórica e do culto à personalidade do pregador

[Leandro Dutra · Rating 5 out of 5]

Essential. Explains why the best preachers I ever heard were Olivier Favre and Stuart Olyott.

[Zach McDonald · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to this short book, if it can be called that, via Reconstructionist Radio Audiobooks which are FREE. (www.reconstructionistradio.com) You can also download a free PDF or purchase a copy of this book and a few others through the Kuyper Foundation. (www.kuyper.org)

It has been a few weeks since I listened to this work, but I still wanted to offer a few thoughts.

In short, the American church certainly does have an idolatry problem with gifted speakers. Gifted speakers aren't the problem, but we make them a problem. This is the main thrust of the essay.

Whole congregations are often built around the speaking abilities of one man. When that man dies, leaves, or goes through scandal, the congregation basically dwindles. Why? Likely because the congregation was not built around the Word of God, the sacraments, and the mission of the Church, but was built around one man's rhetoric. Likewise, the man is respected so much for his speaking abilities, rather than his godliness, that he can often times get away with being unfaithful to the Word of God.

Given, in some instances, God has especially gifted a man with the ability to communicate God's Word in such a way that is obviously a work of the Spirit. We should be exceedingly grateful for this. However, while the ability to teach is a qualification for an elder, the ability to give a highly engaging hour long sermon is not. The normative example throughout Scripture is not men who speak well and thus lead well, but is actually the opposite. Men who are apparently terrible public speakers, but are still tremendously gifted teachers, leaders, and builders of the Kingdom of God - i.e. Moses & Paul. Perks makes some outstanding points and gets to a real idolatry problem in the American church. He also gives some clear historical background to how we got to where we are today.

Here is a minor push back, however, which I already mentioned. God does gift men with the exceptional ability to speak well and to give long messages that don't make folks fall asleep and plunge from a window to their deaths. This isn't normative in Scripture, and shouldn't be the main thrust of pastoral ministry and the Church's ministry as a whole. But it is something we should be grateful to God for, so long as these men are faithful to the Word and are using their abilities to equip the Church for the work of the ministry, not just to put people in pews and puff up their own egos. I am sure Perks would agree with this, but I just thought it helpful to point out.

I highly suggest this short, easy to read (or listen to) work for every modern day evangelical.

First posted at www.joyandtriumph.com

[Josiah Richardson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The difference between a gifted speaker and a blessed speaker when it comes to preaching and teaching scripture is that the "gifted speaker" will draw attention to himself and the blessed speaker will draw attention to Christ. In all things, excellency, but also humility.

[Caleb M. Powers · Rating 4 out of 5]

While I appreciated this book, I think the case Perks makes it a tad overstated. Certainly helpful, and maybe just suffering from the lack of space in which to truly make a robust argument and answer any counter-objections that could be raised.